With a dash of Disney magic and a surprising twist, a helicopter hoisted a 16-foot “champagne bottle” across the bow of the Disney Dream during a christening ceremony yesterday morning officially welcoming the newest ship to the Disney Cruise Line family.

The spring issue of Disney twenty-three magazine hits stands February 1, loaded with articles to delight both Disney fans and the general public.

The cover story gives readers a stem-to-stern tour of Disney Cruise Line’s awe-inspiring new ship, Disney Dream, a mighty 4,000 passenger vessel equipped with cutting-edge technology and activities and entertainment for ultimate family fun on the high seas. Featuring an exclusive guided exploration of this third and largest ship in the Disney fleet, the spring issue of Disney twenty-three lets readers learn exciting details from the Imagineers who helped transform their creative vision into one of the world’s most spectacular floating vacation spots.

The traditional plaque and key exchange for Disney’s newest ship, the Disney Dream, took place today commemorating the ship’s inaugural call on the port with an official maritime ceremony onboard. Several elected and local officials participated in the event including Gov. Rick Scott and Port Canaveral Chief Executive Officer J. Stanley “Stan” Payne, along with Captain Tom Forberg of the Disney Dream and Disney Cruise Line President Karl Holz.

The launch of the Disney Dream is expected to bring sizable economic benefits to Port Canaveral and the region including nearly 450 jobs and thousands of additional cruise guests. The 130,000-ton ship will call Port Canaveral home and sail three-, four- and five-night Bahamian itineraries beginning with the ship’s maiden voyage on Jan. 26.

The newest entry into the Disney Cruise Line fleet, the Disney Dream, arrived at her home port of Port Canaveral from her inaugural stop at Nassau early yesterday morning to great fanfare. Hundreds of Walt Disney World cast members were on hand at Jetty Park to welcome her home where she is currently being prepped for her a series of trial runs, including the christening cruise, prior to her official maiden voyage on January 26.

Fireworks light the morning sky as the Disney Dream, Disney Cruise Line’s newest ship, arrives Jan. 4, 2011 for the first time to her home port of Port Canaveral, Fla. after traveling approximately 6,500 miles across the Atlantic Ocean from Bremerhaven, Germany. The 4,000-passenger Disney Dream will welcome guests on her maiden voyage on Jan. 26, 2011, and is scheduled to sail three-, four- and five-night cruises to the Bahamas and Disney’s private island Castaway Cay, from Port Canaveral. Photo by Phelan Ebenhack.

As the newest entry into the Disney Cruise Line fleet prepares to make her on-sea debut, Walt Disney Imagineering provides us this glimpse into providing the final touches on the interior of the ship. The lengthy video gives some great imagery of nearly-finished areas including the awe-inspiring atrium and its incredible LED-lit chandelier.

Award-winning travel companies Adventures by Disney and Disney Cruise Line have once again teamed up to offer immersive vacation opportunities for families aboard select Disney cruise vacations in 2011. The Adventures by Disney experience is available as an upgrade booked in advance of the cruise that features privately-guided tour packages in Mediterranean or Alaskan ports of call or a pre-cruise adventure at the port of embarkation.

“We have combined the best of both vacations to bring the ultimate adventure package to life,” said Karl Holz, president of Disney Cruise Line and New Vacation Operations for Walt Disney Parks and Resorts. “Families can enjoy the benefits of a cruise with the ease and convenience of a shore experience series unique to the destination, all completely planned and scheduled in advance.”

Disney Cruise Line recently took possession of its newest ship, the Disney Dream, from the Meyer Werft shipyard in a traditional maritime ceremony aboard the ship in Bremerhaven, Germany. The Meyer Werft flag was lowered, while the Disney Cruise Line flag was raised, transferring ownership from the shipbuilder to Disney.

The milestone closes the book on the ship’s construction journey, which began nearly two years ago in Papenburg, Germany, and signals its readiness to welcome guests on its maiden voyage, set for Jan. 26, 2011, from Port Canaveral, Florida.

Disney Cruise Line has shared with us this video of the innovative AquaDuck Water Slide in action aboard the Disney Dream which is now undergoing testing outside the Meyer Werft shipyard in Germany where it was constructed.

An industry first of its kind, the 765 foot long AquaDuck takes the rider on a journey around up, down, around and off the side of the ship, through the Forward Funnel and — following a massive 4 deck-tall drop — into a lazy river.

Disney Cruise Line’s Disney Dream, one of the longest ships in the world and the largest ship to be built in Germany to date, left the shipyard yesterday evening with the aid of a tugboat. The ship will remain in the Meyer Werft shipyard’s harbor where she will first undergo a series of several technical tests as internal construction is completed.

She is expected to be conveyed down the river Ems at an as-of-yet specified date in mid-November at which point she’ll begin crossing the Atlantic for her anticipated January 4 arrival at Port Canaveral.